circumnutate

[sur-kuhm-noo-teyt, -nyoo-]

verb (used without object)

circumnutated, circumnutating 

1. (of the apex of a stem or other growing part of a plant) to bend or move around in an irregular circular or elliptical path.

Other Word Forms

• circumnutation noun
• circumnutatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of circumnutate¹

1875–80; circum- + nutate < Latin nūtātus, past participle of nūtāre to nod in assent, sway, totter

Example Sentences

The central idea of the book is that the movements of plants in relation to light, gravitation, &c., are modifications of a spontaneous tendency to revolve or circumnutate, which is widely inherent in the growing parts of plants.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not that they cease to circumnutate in darkness, for in all the many cases observed by us they continued to do so; but the normal order of their movements in relation to the alternations of day and night is much disturbed or quite annulled.

From Project Gutenberg

These observations were made before we were aware at what an extraordinarily rapid rate the cotyledons circumnutate, and are therefore liable to error.

From Project Gutenberg

This movement has been called by Sachs "revolving nutation;" but we have found it much more convenient to use the terms circumnutation and circumnutate.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the stems of seedlings before they have broken through the ground, as well as their buried radicles, circumnutate, as far as the pressure of the surrounding earth permits.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amble 
• cruise 
• drift 
• float 
• hike 
• meander 
• ramble 
• roam 
• saunter 
• straggle 
• stray 
• stroll 
• traipse 
• trek